“I’m going to try and get my club up and running again. I suggest you do the same. Before all the crap that happened they were havens for men like us. I don’t want those bastards to win.”
“That’s the fighting spirit.”
Stephen left him alone with his thoughts. James hated his thoughts more than he hated anything else.
****
Prue listened to her sister rant and rave at her for leaving the house.
“You just ran off. What was I supposed to think?” Veronica asked.
“You weren’t supposed to think anything. I’m not a child.”
“Then why are you behaving like one?”
Prue stared at her sister and felt so angry at her. “I’m not behaving like a child. I’m trying to do something that will stop this feeling inside.” Pressing a hand to her chest, Prue growled in annoyance. “Do you have any idea what this feels like?”
Veronica stared at her with pity. She despised the pity.
“There, see, look at your face. You pity me. I see it clearly on your face, and I hate that.” Her voice rose with every word she spoke. “The man I’ve been in love with for the longest time has just driven away, and I want more than anything to stop him, and I can’t. I don’t know what to do to stop this.” Running a hand down her face Prue stared out of the kitchen window. “I ran out of this house because of what I saw on the news. I needed to get away, and I ended up in James’s house. He held me tightly and I loved that. His scent surrounded me, and I needed a break from being me.”
She stared at her sister and watched as the older woman swallowed.
Tears clogged in her throat, but she continued talking no matter how painful it was. “I forced him to have sex with me. James tried to stop me, and I begged him. He can’t deny me anything. I know that. He loves me and still made love to me. In the end, something held me back.”
“You’ve been through something, and that is what’s affecting you. You can’t expect to be fixed,” Veronica said.
“No, I don’t expect to be fixed, but when your family comes back tomorrow, I’m going back home, and I’m doing everything I can until I’m fixed.” Prue brushed past her sister and made her way to her room. She slammed the door closed then tensed. Growling with frustration, she opened the door then sat on the bed.
She grabbed a book off the side that Veronica left and started reading. The paperback was a romance but failed to calm her nerves. After a few hours passed Veronica came up carrying a tray of food.
“I’ve come with a peace offering,” Veronica said.
“I don’t need a peace offering.” She put the book aside then moved as her sister put the tray on the bed.
“You don’t need to leave tomorrow. I’d like for you to stay a few days.”
Prue smiled. “You’re playing mother hen again.”
“We can’t call our parents, and James will give you everything you need. Please, let me care for you for a change.”
She nodded, picking up the piece of toast. “I could never stay angry at you for too long.”
Veronica smiled.
Chapter Sixteen
The days passed, and Prue stayed with her sister for another week. Having Daniel and the children in the house was a welcome distraction. She saw the unease on her brother-in-law’s face. Prue knew James was the cause, but she didn’t do anything to put his mind at ease. She liked knowing James was her protector. He called her sister every day to get an update on her. Veronica didn’t know she knew about the calls. She let it slide as her love for him never stopped.
She moved back home the following Monday and started distracting her thoughts by cleaning away the mess she’d left behind. Opening the windows she blasted the house with cold air getting rid of the dust. She dumped out the rotting food then made her way toward the grocery store. Passing the papers on the way to the store she saw Henry’s picture on the front.
His photo didn’t affect her, and for that she was relieved.
After she packed away the shopping she’d bought, she grabbed the paper and started looking for a job. As she sat looking for work the bell went on her front door. She ran to open it to find the two agents who visited her before James came to her in the hospital.
“Hello, Miss Star. I’m Hubert, and this is Josiah. We wanted to check up on you.”
She stared at them amazed and then allowed them to enter her home.
“Why are you here?” she asked, taking a seat.
“We wanted to make sure you were settling in fine,” Josiah said.
“I’m fine.”
Prue moved away to the kitchen. She grabbed them a carton of juice. Being polite at the moment didn’t feel right. “Have you spoken with James?” she asked, wanting to know if he was all right.
“He’s doing fine. We wanted to make sure you were doing okay and to ask you some questions about your experience of being with Henry Warren.”
She sat down on the sofa across from them. Prue grabbed a pillow and hugged it against her as she stared between the two men. They didn’t frighten her. She answered their questions describing everything that happened from Jermaine being shot and then being recused by James. Prue didn’t leave anything out.
“Daren Robinson was posing as a man named Leo, correct?” Hubert asked.
“Yes. He was the security man at the door of Ravage and was supposed to be James’s friend, I think.”
They scribbled notes into their books, and when they were finished they stood.
She shook each of their hands and watched them leave. When they were in the car, she sagged against the door and let out a long shuddering breath. She’d done it. She’d gotten through the questioning without a single panic attack.
Going back to the table she picked up the phone and started making some calls for a job. She was in the middle of a conversation when her door bell went again.
Talking on the phone she moved toward the door. Cadeon stood on the other side with Violet beside him. The woman looked heavily pregnant.
Ending the call she stared at the two people. “What’s the matter? Is something wrong with James?” she asked, fearing for him.
“Nothing is the matter. James thought it would be good for you to talk with Violet. I’m here to make sure she’s fine.”
Violet smiled at her before turning to her husband.
“I’m going to Ravage. If you need me call, okay,” Cadeon said.
Prue watched as Cadeon cupped Violet’s cheeks and slammed his lips down on hers. Prue yearned for James’s touch in that moment. Only when Cadeon was satisfied with his possessive kiss did he pull away.